By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The U.S. Olympic Team made itself right at home in Rio. The British, they had a Games to savor as well. The host Brazilians got soccer gold that they craved, the Russians struggled on the heels of the exposure of a state-sponsored doping program, and the Chinese finished well below expectations. So went the medal race at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where the Americans – with women leading the way – dominated both the gold and overall totals. The U.S. finished with 46 gold medals and 121 medals overall, its 51-total-medal margin over second-place China the largest in a non-boycotted Olympics in nearly a century. “This experience has been the dream of a lifetime
Tag: U.S.
USA Basketball’s Rio Olympics Gold Medal Run A Sign World Falling Behind Again?
The United States didn’t send its best possible men’s basketball team to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Not even close. The squad played some sloppy basketball with too much one-on-one play and inconsistent outside shooting. None of it mattered, though, as the Americans cruised to another gold medal — their third straight and sixth in the last seven Olympics — with a 96-66 win over Serbia on Sunday. The U.S. completely dominated the Olympics with the Dream Team and Dream Team II in 1992 and 1996, respectively. The world began to catch up, though, and that was evident in 2000. By the time the 2004 Athens Games came around, the U.S. was
U.S. women win 6th consecutive basketball gold
By Doug Feinberg AP Basketball Writer RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Geno Auriemma and Diana Taurasi shared a long, emotional embrace. Mission accomplished. The dominant U.S. women’s basketball team did what was expected, winning a sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal and doing it in impressive fashion. In yet another rout, the U.S. dismantled Spain 101-72 on Saturday. Taurasi and the Americans played nearly flawless basketball in Rio, and were never challenged. They have won 49 consecutive games in the Olympics with only one of those decided by single digits. “It’s amazing isn’t it? I mean when you think, that’s 20 years of 20 years,” Auriemma said. “You know the first one was 96 and here we are 2016. It’s mindboggling when you think about it
A look back at the memorable moments from Rio
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Michael Phelps won more medals than anyone else, again. And then he said farewell, also again. Usain Bolt kissed the finish line goodbye after enhancing his Olympic legacy. Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky delivered under the burden of enormous expectations. Two strangers went from rivals to forever-linked by a display of kindness, an entire island seemed to celebrate a tennis match, and a gold medalist scampered home to avoid legal issues after a robbery story unraveled. And then the home team won soccer gold. The Rio de Janeiro Olympics were not perfect. But there were moments — some great, some dreadful and some downright ugly — that will not, and should not, be forgotten. Here’s a
Ashton Eaton wins gold in the decathlon again
By Gerald Imray AP Sports Writer RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Ashton Eaton retained his title as the best all-around athlete in the world by tying the decathlon Olympic record and, within minutes, had stepped back for track and field’s ultimate superstar to take center stage again. What more could the now two-time Olympic champion Eaton do Thursday night to get just a little sliver of the limelight that beams down so brightly on Usain Bolt? Not much. “I had the pleasure of being in the same era as Usain Bolt,” Eaton said. “I mean, the guy’s last name is Bolt, he’s the fastest man ever, you can’t write a story like that.” You can try. For his own tale, Eaton made it back-to-back Olympic and world
Klay Thompson leads U.S. hoops to 100-97 win over France
By Brian Mahoney AP Basketball Writer RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Three wins from gold, and still no reason to think it will be easy for the U.S. men’s basketball team. Klay Thompson ended an Olympic-long slump with seven 3-pointers and 30 points, and the Americans needed almost all of them to hold off France 100-97 on Sunday. The U.S. won its 50th straight tournament game, but the last three have been nothing like most of the previous 47. Winning by three for the second consecutive game, the U.S. improved to 5-0 and clinched first place in Group A. The Americans open quarterfinal play Wednesday, still the favorite but looking as beatable as ever under Mike Krzyzewski. Their opponents couldn’t be determined until the completion of
Brad Marchand Nets Shorthanded Goal For Canada Vs. U.S. In World Championships
by Zack Cox on Fri, May 6, 2016 at 11:44AM 2,766 Brad Marchand finished tied for third in the NHL with four shorthanded goals this season, and the Boston Bruins winger added another Friday in Canada’s IIHF World Championship opener against the United States. Marchand turned in the best performance of his career this season, finishing first on the Bruins and sixth in the NHL with a career-high 37 goals. He was the first Boston player to surpass the 35-goal plateau since Phil Kessel in 2008-09...